Clemson, S.C. – Clemson Softball utility-ace Valerie Cagle (Yorktown, Va.) has been named to the Team USA’s U-18 Junior Women’s National Team as was announced by USA Softball on Friday. Cagle and the other 17 athletes named to the team are set to compete at the 2021 U-18 WBSC World Cup and Junior Pan American Softball Championship. The team will compete at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 World Cup in Lima, Peru Aug. 28 through Sept. 5 and the Junior Pan American Games in Barranquilla, Columbia Nov. 25 through Dec. 5.
USA Softball Release
Cagle, a first team NFCA All-Region selection, was the first player in league history to be named ACC Player and Freshman of the Year in the same season. A top-10 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, Cagle led the ACC in ERA (1.16), finished tied for first in saves (5), and was second in innings pitched (216.2), batters struck out (267) and shutouts (11). Nationally, Cagle fourth in wins (28), tied for seventh in saves, eighth in shutouts, and 11th in ERA and strikeouts. In the batter’s box, she led the ACC in slugging percentage (.821) and tied for first in home runs (17) and RBI (45), was third in on-base percentage (.492), and fifth in doubles (12). Cagle homered and was the winning pitcher in the same game on eight occasions. In 2021, she also recorded a program-record 23-game hitting streak.
Due to the postponement of the WBSC U-18 World Cup, which was originally scheduled to take place in August 2020, the WBSC extended the age eligibility to allow athletes who were eligible for the 2020 event with the opportunity to participate in the rescheduled event this year. With the extended age eligibility, the 2021 USA Softball U-18 Junior Women’s National Team roster includes one member of the 2019 U-17 JWNT World Championship Gold Medal team, six current NCAA Division I student-athletes and 12 committed and/or signed NCAA Division I student athletes – four of which also advanced to the JWNT Selection Trials through the USA Softball High Performance Program (HPP).
Led by Head Coach Kyla Holas and Assistant Coaches Suzy Brazney (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Lisa Navas (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), the Red, White and Blue will look to claim a fourth-consecutive WBSC Junior Women’s World Championship title, having won the previous three World Championships in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Additionally, the 2021 U-18 JWNT roster will compete for the gold medal at the Junior Pan American Games.
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